Introduction to Policy Issues Related to the Development and Use of Digital Resources in Mathematics Education

In this chapter, we introduce the section “Politics of Digital Resources,” which focuses on the relationship between politics and digital resources in teaching and learning mathematics. We explore the politics surrounding digital resources in mathematics education, including the rules and regulations imposed by the political and bureaucratic system and those developed from within the practice. The authors examine digital development’s impact on equity, mathematical literacy’s role in civic education, as well as on evaluation and assessment. The politics of digital resources are viewed from three perspectives: implementation, regulation of tools, and democratic obligations in a digital era. Implementation is crucial for realizing educational decisions, but rapid technological changes can create ongoing implementation and change challenges. The role of digital tools in education has been a point of contention in many countries, with conflicting tendencies regarding their use. Assessment of mathematical skills and learning using digital tools present additional challenges. Finally, the teaching of mathematics has a role in civic education. The increased digitalization of society and the educational system means that digital resources and their influences on mathematical reasoning and life, in general, should be an object of mathematics instruction.